Adapter for collapsible tube winding key for varying taper of key



w. 21, 1950 A. A. F. KRUEGER ADAPTER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE WINDING KEY FOR VARYING TAPER OF KEY Filed June so, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

ALBERT AF KRUEGER ATTO/F/VE) Patented Nov. 21, 1950 ADAPTER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE WIND- ING KEY FOR VARYING TAPER OF KEY Albert A. F. Krueger, New York, N. Y.

Application June 30, 1947, Serial No. 757,967

4 Claims.

This invention relates to tube dispensers of a type adapted to be engaged upon the closed end of a tube of toothpaste, shaving cream or the like so as to receive the rolled turns of the tube.

With the tube dispensers used heretofore, difficulty was found in that the toothpaste, shaving cream tube or the like would be wound loosely at the outer end of the dispenser and also would work over toward the handle to make it difficult to complete the turning operation.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a tube dispenser which will wind the tube evenly and with the same tightness at the tip end of the dispenser as at the inner end adjacent the handle.

According to the invention the tube dispenser has a hollowed portion with a slot for receiving the tube end. This hollowed portion is tapered so. as to have an equal tightness of the tube at all points along the tapered portion. Since the diameter is smaller .at the tip end, the greater winding force or leverage is had at the tip end. The tube will accordingly be squeezed with the same pressurethroughout the width of the tube. In order to prevent the tube from working over the handle there is provided a radially-extending flange adjacent the handle portion to guide the inner edge of the tube. The handle portion has a bail which can be pivoted downwardly relative to the dispenser handle portion when the tube is not in use, thereby to conserve space. To increase the taper on the winding portion, an adaptor having the greater taper is slipped over the regular winding portion. The adaptor facilitates the winding of long tubes.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my tube dispenser looking from the open tip toward the rear or handle portion thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the tube dispenser taken through the same so as to show the slot for receiving the tube end and to show more clearly the tapered construction of the portion on which the tube is wound.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tube containing a cream to be dispensed provided with my 2 tube dispenser attached and ready to wind up the paste tube.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an adaptor to alter the taper of the dispenser.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the dispenser with the adaptor mounted thereon, the adaptor and connecting ring being shown in longitudinal section.

Referring now to the figures, IE] is a hollow portion having a slit ll therein for receiving the flattened bottom end of a tube l2, as shown in Fig. 3. One end of the slit H is enlarged as shown at i l to facilitate the engagement of the end of the tube l2 into the slit ll of the hollow portion ill. The hollow portion It is tapered'to provide a smaller diameter at the end thereof removed from a handle portion 13 and a flange M. The handle portion I3 has a ring or bail l5 which may be folded down to conserve space when the dispenser is not in use.

By having the hollow portion l0 tapered, an even smooth winding of the tube is effected. If the hollow portion were of the same diameter as is common with other tube dispensers, the tube would be wound tightly adjacent the handle and loose at the tip end or at points removed from the handle or point where the turning force is applied. The prior dispensers do not serve to completely empty the tube of all its contents since there would be a looseness in the winding of the tube at the outer end of the dispenser.

At any time the tube can be removed from the dispenser by merely sliding it from the tip end from the slit ll. Preferably, however, the tube dispenser is left on the tube until all of the contents of the tube have been removed and when it is desired to use the dispenser on a fresh tube. To facilitate the removal of the dispenser from the tube, it is given one backward turn.

The flange l4 keeps the tube aligned as it is rolled up and prevents the tube from working over the handle [3 to render the dispenser inoperable.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown an adaptor l'l adapted to fit over the hollow portion l0 and having a slit l8 adapted to be aligned with the slit l I of the hollow winding portion Ill. It will be noted that this adaptor has a decidedly greater taper than does the hollow portion H]. With the increased taper, long tubes can be better wound than with less taper. The hollow portion may have a slight annular recess IS in which a spring ring 20 contained within an internal recess 2| in the adaptor I! may register as the adaptor is moved into place on the hollow por- 3 tion 10 whereby to retain the adaptor on the hollow portion.

It i to be understood that the handle portion l3 and the ring [5 may be made integral of plastic or any suitable material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An article of the class described comprising a tubular winding portion tapered in diameter from one end to the other, said tubular winding portion being formed with a slit for receiving the closed end of a collapsible tube from which the cream contents are to be dispensed, a handle portion integrally formed with the enlarged end of said tubular winding portion and forming a. tapered extension thereof and by which the tubular portion may be turned for winding the collapsible tube thereon, and means between said tubular winding portion and said handle portion for preventing the turns of the collapsible tube from moving over and covering said handle portion, and a hollow adaptor having a taper different from the taper of said tubular portion en'- gageable over said tubular winding portion.

2. An article of the class described comprising a tubular winding portion tapered in diameter from one end to the other, said tubular winding portion being formed with a slit for receiving the closed end Of a collapsible tube from which the cream contents are to be dispensed, a handle portion integrally formed with the enlarged end of said tubular winding portion and forming a tapered extension thereof and by which the tubular portion may be turned for winding the collapsible tube thereon, and means between said tubula winding portion and said handle portion for preventing the turns of the collapsible tube from moving over and 00V- ering said handle portion, and a hollow adaptor having a taper different from the taper of said tubular portion engageable over said tubular winding portion, said adaptor having a slit alignable with the slit of said tubular winding portion.

3. An article of the class described comprising a tubular winding portion tapered in diameter from one end to the other, said tubular winding portion being formed with a slit for re- Number ceiving the closed end of a collapsible tube from which the cream contents are to be dispensed, a handle portion integrally formed with the enlarged end of said tubular winding portion and forming a tapered extension thereof and by which the tubular portion may be turned for winding the collapsible tube thereon, and means between said tubular winding portion and said handle portion for preventing the turns of the collapsible tube from moving over and covering said handle portion, and a hollow adaptor having a taper different from the taper of said tubular portion engageable over said tubular winding portion, and means for releasably retaining said hollow adaptor in position on said tubular winding portion.

4. An article of the class described comprising a tubular winding portion tapered in diameter from one end to the other, said tubular winding portion being formed with a slit for receiving the closed end 'of a collapsible tube from which the cream contents are to be dispensed, a handle portion integrally formed with the en'- larged end of said tubular winding portion and forming a tapered extension thereof and by which the tubular portion may be turned for winding the collapsible tube thereon, and means between said tubular winding portion and said handle portion for preventing the turns of the collapsible tube from moving over and covering said handle portion, and a hollow adaptor having a taper different from the taper of said tubular 'por'ti'on.

engageable over said tubular winding portion, and means for releasably retaining said hollow adaptor in position on said tubular winding portion, said releasable retaining means comprises an expandable ring engaged partially within a substantially semi-circular groove formed within the small end of said adaptor and receivable within a complementary substantially semi-c'ircular groove formed in the outer face of the small end of said winding portion when the adaptor is slipped over the small end of said winding portion.

ALBERT A. F. KRUEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,257,609 Johnson Feb. 26, 1918 1,698,834 Ury -1 Jan. 15, 1929 1,714,211 Brownlee et a1 May 21 1929 1,986,409 Redmer Jan. -1, 1935 2,368,952 Vale Feb. 6, 194's 

